Student fees fund USU programs
As Utah State University students visit the Cashier’s Office each semester with checkbook in hand, many are left wondering where their money went.
Students may not realize how much is going toward university programs. Student fees have remained a mystery too long.
Gary Chambers, assistant vice president of Student Life, said, “The theory behind student fees is that students need to pay for the things they want, that wouldn’t be paid for otherwise.”
According to the Cashier’s Office, the fees are the same amount for every student and go toward the Aggie Shuttle, computer lab maintenance, libraries, building projects, recreation, music, technology, etc.
The annually reviewed student fee, which was $255 this semester for those enrolled in 12 or more credits, is administered by the Student Fee Board, he said.
“It takes a critical mass of support for the whole campus to work,” Chambers said.
In 1988, the student government initiated what is known today as the Student Fee Board, which operates as an official body, he said. Matt Ekins, student advocate vice president for the Associated Students of Utah State University, chairs the board. Other vice presidents, members of the Executive Council, three appointed students, Randy Jensen, vice president for Student Services, and Chambers are members of the board.
“Every university area that receives student fees has an administrative fee committee that oversees that area to show how that fee money is being used every year,” Chambers said. “The fee committee will talk about whether they need more money to maintain that same level of service being offered to the students. They ask themselves, ‘Do we have enough money to continue our level of service? Do we want to expand or improve service?'”
Each year, the board meets to review committee requests and decides whether an increase in fees or new fees are necessary. If it is deemed necessary, then the Student Fee Board will send a recommendation to President Kermit L. Hall, later to be sent to the boards of Trustees and Regents, Chambers said.
Students may argue paying for certain services is unfair when they have no desire or need to personally utilize them.
“No one utilizes all fee areas, but it is a part of the overall infrastructure expenses of providing programs,” Chambers said. “[Students] should contribute to the well-being of the community. While they are not receiving direct benefits of a certain service, there is a community benefit by contributing to the overall betterment.”
All students enrolled pay fees, but some have extras tacked on for particular departments and classes.
The student fee for computers, for example, is $53 per semester, but a great deal of courses charge a fee for computer use during the duration of the class.
Reid Furniss, staff assistant for the journalism department, said course fees are not to be confused with student fees. While the student computer fee is for maintaining the open-access computer labs around campus, the individual course fees go toward computer maintenance, software and supplies in individual departments.
“They are specific and unique to each lab,” Furniss said. “Usually, the fees are specific to that department or the goal of that department.”
Chambers said though students have raised questions, it is evident funding from fees is a great asset for making the university a better place to learn. The student fees make several programs a reality for students, he said.
Ben Quick, a senior majoring in recreation resource management, agrees with the student fee program.
“Obviously, there are things that need to be paid for within the university,” he said. “[Student] fees are as good a way as any, in my opinion. As long as the university does a good job of making sure the money is being spent wisely, I don’t have a problem with the way the fee structure works.”
-mdinger@cc.usu.edu